125 



I soon obtained nine roots, with their withered stolones 

 adhering ; I planted them in a plot, and, cutting off the 

 long strings from the eight, supported those of the ninth in 

 the centre with tall sticks. 



When the vegetating season commenced (for it was 

 March when I planted them), the eight that were cropped 

 began to project their stolones horizontally, while the 

 bunch, apparently of dry hay, extending upward from the 

 ninth, began to produce green buds, which, soon acquiring 

 length, hung down in festoons to the ground, where they 

 rooted, extending themselves along the surface ; while the 

 erect mass increased in bulk, exhibiting a singular con- 

 trast between the withered hay, and the green strings 

 issuing from it. 



In this state I left them in Julj; and in my annual visit 

 to the Northern coast, I commenced mowing my Portrush 

 meadow, (August 1,) when I discovered that the sward 

 was much composed of green stalks, without seed : — 

 culmi without panicles, were quite new to me, this being 

 the season in which most grasses produce their seed : — on 

 attentive observation, I Ukewise found, that all these culmi 

 came from florin roots, which also produced some stalks 

 with seed. 



My scientific frifends. Sir Humphrey Davy and 

 Mr. Greenough, happened then to be on a visit to me. 

 I brought them to the meadow, and showed them this ex- 

 traordinary appearance, new also to them. Sir H. Davy 

 advised me to leave a small part uncut, and to watch what 

 these stalks without panicles would come to : I did so, 

 and observed them increasing in length, until unable to 

 support their own weight, they fell down, still continuing 

 to lengthen ; and that when I mowed the piece of re- 

 served meadow, October 1st, its crop was double the 

 amount of what was cut August 1st, and very fine. 



